Tbilisi 2015: Gymnast boys scoop team gold

28 July 2015 / 19:28

A dominant display from Hamish Carter, Joe Fraser and Giarnni Regini-Moran sealed Team GB’s first trip to the top of podium at Tbilisi 2015 after success in the boys’ artistic gymnastics team final as Brits took home three medals on day two in Georgia.

Earlier in the day Lauren Dolan held on for bronze in the cycling time trial while Ellinor Southward claimed bronze in the 100m backstroke after timing error initially pushed her down to fourth.

That success took Team GB’s medal tally to five and the gymnasts will be looking to add to that number later on in the week after qualifying the top two spots for the all-around and 11 places for the individual apparatus finals.

“I’m really happy. It’s a great achievement for the team and delighted to have done it for GB,” said Fraser.

“It’s given us confidence because we know that we’ve finished top in all of the finals except for the high bar so we know we’re capable of more success later on this week.”

“This has definitely topped what I’ve achieved before,” added Carter.

“I’ve really enjoyed competing with these boys – I’ve known them since I was six or seven years old – so to step on the podium with them as European Youth Olympic Champions is brilliant.”

The first medal of the day came in the cycling time trial with Dolan’s third place finish and it was a strong team performance with all three girls finishing in the top six.

Jess Roberts ended the day in fifth with Pfeiffer Georgi just a place behind after all racing in the searing heat in Tbilisi.

Dolan had a nervous long wait holding onto a medal position after an early start number, but the 15-year-old from Newton Abbot was delighted to finish with bronze.

“It feels amazing and I’m just so overwhelmed. I can’t believe it and never thought this would happen,” said Dolan.

“The ride was so hard. I pushed myself and couldn’t get anything more out so it’s great to come out with a good result.

“It was so nerve-wracking sitting and watching the other riders come in. It’s a horrible wait.

“I was hoping for a top ten coming into the TT and didn’t expect a medal at all. This is just amazing. It’s above and beyond anything I’ve done before.

“All three girls in the top six puts us in an amazing place going into the road race and gives us so much confidence going into and hopefully we can take home the gold.”

Over in the pool, Southward’s bronze medal came about in somewhat bizarre circumstances after a timing error initially had the 14-year-old in fourth.

However, the time correction came through at the last second, allowing Southward to make her victory ceremony and the Ellesmere swimmer was delighted to see all her hard work pay off.

“All afternoon there were power issues affecting the timing so it’s just unfortunate that it happened in my race,” said Southward.

“It feels like everything has finally paid off. Getting onto the team was amazing but this was one step better. The top four were really close so I gave it my all and hoped for the best.”

There was disappointment for Team GB’s judoka today though as Olivia Piechota lost her bronze medal play-off while Henry Wakes and Ottavio Razzino were beaten in their opening fights.